The nature of job-related age stereotypes

Abstract

56 realtors and 50 undergraduate business students rated the average 60-yr-old man and the average 30-yr-old man on 65 personal characteristics scored on 4 worker-qualification dimensions. A questionnaire was developed from literature on industrial gerontology, popular literature on aging, and questionnaires designed for worker evaluations. The 60-yr-old was rated lower on performance capacity and lower on potential for development; the 30-yr-old was rated lower on stability. No differences were found for ratings of interpersonal skills. The invalidity of age stereotypes is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1976 American Psychological Association.